The adoption of Malaysia’s National Digital Identity (MyDigital ID), set to launch next year, faces challenges in light of recent cybersecurity incidents. Following the compromise of the Social Security Organisation (Socso/ Perkeso), experts emphasis the need for robust security measures to protect against potential data breaches.
Novem CS CEO Murugason R. Thangaratnam underscores the importance of minimising vulnerabilities through rigorous testing. Despite the government’s allocation of RM80 million for MyDigital ID implementation, concerns persist about its susceptibility to cyber threats, according to Malay Mail.
Murugason warns that cybercriminals may target MyDigital ID for identity theft, making convincing Malaysians to trust the system and share personal data online a significant hurdle.
He stresses the need for the government to enhance accountability for data security. Global Centre for Cybersafety director Datuk Husin Jazri suggests appointing an independent third party to conduct security audits, drawing parallels with Estonia’s successful digital ID implementation.
While the Digital Ministry, led by Gobind Singh Deo, now oversees the Department of Personal Data Protection, recent breaches, including Perkeso and the Inland Revenue Board, underscore the urgency of stringent security measures.
The backdrop of a growing cybercrime epidemic in Malaysia, causing nearly RM2 billion in losses to scams and frauds, according to the Royal Malaysia Police, further emphasises the need for transparent processes and trust management in the implementation of MyDigital ID technology.
